Short Summary

Two young army lieutenants found guilty of trying to overthrow the Ghanaian Government were executed by firing squad in Accra on Tuesday, minutes after waving to an excited crowd about 20,000 spectators.

Description

Two young army lieutenants found guilty of trying to overthrow the Ghanaian Government were executed by firing squad in Accra on Tuesday, minutes after waving to an excited crowd about 20,000 spectators. The crowd jostled with police and army cordons as they attempted to get nearer to the public execution. Cameramen, however, were not allowed to film the execution itself.

The sentenced officers, Lieutenant Sam Arthur and Lieutenant Moses Yeboah, waved to the crowd shortly after arriving in an Air Force helicopter. The crowd -- which included many children -- responded with shouts and jeers and officials immediately put the officers behind an enclosure.

When they were led out to two stakes in front of the firing squad, Arthur refused a blindfold. After the execution, the crowd rushed through police and army cordons as a doctor was brought out to declare the two men dead. The bodies, wrapped in blankets, were taken away in a police van.

(The two officers were found guilty on April 17. Lieutenant Arthur said that he had masterminded the unsuccessful plot because he was dissatisfied with the Government and wished to be the first Lieutenant in history to lead a coup. Lieutenant Yeboah was found guilty of killing Lieutenant-General Kotoka, the Armed Forces commander. It is believed that public execution was decided upon by the National Liberation Council mainly because of rumours that the two men would not be executed.